McCain: Gates should have waited

1/12/14 10:01 AM EST

Sen. John McCain said Sunday that former Defense Secretary Robert Gates should have waited a little longer to release his memoir, which leveled a harsh critique of President Barack Obama’s leadership in the war in Afghanistan.

“I think, frankly, I might’ve if I had given him advice, I would’ve waited. But as far as waiting until it’s over in Afghanistan, I wouldn’t have done that,” the Arizona Republican said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “But maybe [in] retrospect, a little longer than now.

“But I also respect his ability to voice his views anytime he wants to,” McCain added.

McCain, a key Senate voice on defense issues and the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, called Gates “one of the finest public servants that I’ve known” and said the former Pentagon chief is “obviously very frustrated.” The book is scheduled to be released on Tuesday.